California State University Chief Financial Officer Richard West
to Retire at End of Year

(July 23, 2008) – California State University Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer Richard P. West will retire at the end of December it was announced by CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed. West, who has a 40-year career in higher education, has been with the CSU for the last 15 years, serving as vice chancellor and senior vice chancellor for Business and Finance before assuming his current post as executive vice chancellor and chief financial officer.

Some of West’s accomplishments include the development and implementation of a comprehensive framework for technology to support students, faculty and staff; the revision of the CSU’s debt policies saving the CSU millions of dollars; the formation of a systemwide insurance program that has minimized liability; and improved endowment management.

As part of West’s transition, Dr. Benjamin F. Quillian, Jr., has been named as an executive officer in Administration and Finance by Chancellor Reed and will join the CSU on Sept. 15. Quillian is senior vice president for business and operations at the American Council on Education in Washington, D.C., a post he has held since 2003. Previously Quillian was vice president for administration and chief financial officer At CSU Fresno for 10 years.

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The California State University is the largest system of senior higher education in the country, with 23 campuses, approximately 450,000 students and 46,000 faculty and staff. Since the system was created in 1961, it has awarded nearly 2.5 million degrees, about 90,000 annually. Its mission is to provide high-quality, affordable education to meet the ever-changing needs of the people of California. With its commitment to excellence, diversity and innovation, the CSU is the university system that is working for California. See www.calstate.edu